Ian Allan answers your fantasy football questions. In this edition. Expecations for Kyler Murray. Fading Dameon Pierce. Backup running backs with upside.
Question 1
Any insight on Kyler Murray?
Matt LaCapra (Cold Spring Harbor, NY)
The Cardinals have surprised me. When they released DeAndre Hopkins without a June 1 designation (accelerating all of the $22 million cap hit into this season) I thought the plan was to quietly tank, hoping to go about 2-15. With the No. 1 overall pick of the draft, Arizona could start over with a new quarterback.
But if there’s some kind of tank memo going around, it hasn’t gotten to the players and coaches. They’re playing hard, beating the Cowboys and leading in three other games. They’re 15th in yards and 20th in scoring. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing seems like he knows what he’s doing, with the team rushing for 130-plus yards in two thirds of its games.
Consider Joshua Dobbs. He’s been a top-20 quarterback so far. In his last five, he’s averaged 217 passing and 38 rushing yards, with a combined 7 TDs (including a run) versus only 3 interceptions. If Arizona can get Murray playing anything like Dobbs, he could be a top-15 quarterback in the second half of the season.
Murray just returned to practice. I’m not sure where he’s at physically, and when they’ll be moving him to the active roster. They’ve got 21 days to decide. But I’m thinking he’ll be starting some games, and I’m expecting he’ll grade out as a serviceable starter in some games in the second half of the season.
Question 2
I am in a 12-team standard scoring dynasty league and I wanted to get your opinion on Derrick Henry. I am thinking of making a trade offer for him and wondered what you think his future looks like? I know he is close to 30 now, but feel I could use him to make a run this year. Also, Dameon Pierce has me worried after last week.
Damon Duhon (Baton Rouge, LA)
I’m also worried about Pierce. I like the way he plays (nobody runs any harder) but they’ve been unable to get him going. He’s averaging only 2.9 yards per attempt. And now it seems like they’re ready to start looking at other options. He’s been their main back thus far, but they slashed his playing time on Sunday, moving him into a time-share arrangement with Devin Singletary. They both got 13 touches against Houston, and Singletary was more effective, averaging over 2 more yards per attempt.
It seemed like they went into that Saints game intending to use Singletary more. He showed up on their first possession, he was the first back out for the second series. He ended up playing a lot more downs. With him having outplayed Pierce, I would be surprised if they went back to using Pierce heavily in their game game.
I don’t know that Henry is the answer to your troubles. He’s on a lesser team and is also competing for touches with another running back on his team (Tyjae Spears looks good). Henry thus far has averaged more than 3.3 per carry in only half of his games. Ryan Tannehill is out now, but I don’t think that will slow down Henry much (if at all). Malik Willis started three games last year, and Henry ran for at least 115 yards in all of them.
Question 3
I’d be interested to get your thoughts on rankings for biggest upside players ROS that generally might still be on the waiver wire (or borderline available). For instance, who is more valuable between guys like Tyjae Spears, Jaylen Warren, Cam Akers, Kareem Hunt, etc. if their positional colleagues got hit with the injury bug? What other players could shoot up into RB1/WR1 territory and be league winners if injuries strike?
Timothy Lynch (Chicago, IL)
How about Jordan Mason? He’s carried 15 times for 96 yards and 2 TDs in his last two games. When Christian McCaffrey missed the last part of the Cleveland game, they went to Mason rather than Elijah Mitchell. Looks like a guy who should be rostered.
And call me crazy, but I liked the energy Zach Evans displayed in slamming into the line for 10 yards on 4 carries at the end of the Arizona game. Kyren Williams is out for a few games with an ankle injury, and I think it’s fair to wonder if Evans might put up decent numbers while he’s filling in. (At the same time, he gained only 77 yards on 23 carries in the preseason, making it reasonable to wonder how long it will be before they’re turning to Myles Gaskin, Royce Freeman or Darrell Henderson.)